In the opening match between his new team, Inter Miami, and Cruz Azul, Lionel Messi had a dream debut for Inter Miami.
He scored a curling free-kick in the last seconds to give his new team a 2-1 victory. Since Messi has only participated in three full training sessions with the squad thus far, Miami brought him off the bench, but the Mexican visitors outperformed them at times on Friday in the game in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Even the Argentinian superstar, who won the World Cup just a few months prior and won the Ballon d’Or seven times as the finest player in the world, had little opportunities.
However, after committing the foul himself approximately seven yards outside the penalty area, Messi produced a superb left-footed free kick that sailed past the goalie Andres Gudino and into the upper left corner. Messi stated of his free kick.
“I knew it was the last chance,” Messi said after the match. “I simply tried as I always do, fortunately the keeper was unable to get the ball.”